Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!Holbrook.ES@PARC-MAXC.ARPA From: Holbrook.ES@PARC-MAXC.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.movies Subject: The Return of Martin Guerre Message-ID: <5224@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Sep-83 11:48:32 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.5224 Posted: Tue Sep 13 11:48:32 1983 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Sep-83 08:12:36 EDT Lines: 31 Date: 11 Sep 83 13:23:13 PDT (Sun) To: movies@UCI Subject: The Return of Martin Guerre From: Stephen Willson This French film is a period piece. The action takes place in France (where else) during the early 1500's. Martin Guerre is a complete wimp who gets married to Bertrande, this wondeful woman that he doesn't deserve. Martin is lazy and gets caught stealing from his own father! Finally, Martin, wimp that he is, runs off to fight in the war and is never seen again until... One day he shows up. Everyone rejoices at his return. He is much healthier, taller, smarter (he has learned to read and write); he works harder and is a better husband to the fair Bertrande. In fact, the two fall madly in love with each other, whereas before they were having quite a bit of trouble (they were unable to consummate the marriage until the local priest exorcised some demons from Martin). All is well, and everyone is much pleased at how Martin has changed for the better, until one day Martin demands from his uncle the profits that were made on his land while he was gone. Since Martin's parents passed away while he was fighting the wars, Martin is due some money, but his uncle, greedy s.o.b. that he is, refuses to pay up, and claims that Martin is an imposter! Ho ho! These leads us to no less than three trials before we finally learn whether Martin is the real Martin Guerre or an extraodinary imitation. The trials are the best part of this movie. The characterizations are great. The recreation of France in the 1500's is great. The trials are often concerned with Bertrande? Does she recognize her husband or not? This flick is actually a pretty good love story. I give it a 9 out of 10. It's in French with subtitles.